Baked Stuffed Cuttlefish

With a shrimp based stuffing

Cuttlefish are related to squid and octopus, and taste
closest to squid. Tasted blind, you might not know the difference.

If you cannot find cuttlefish locally (I can usually
find them frozen at local Demoulas Supermarkets, and occasionally fresh
elsewhere), feel free to use squid for this rocking recipe!

This is a fairly simple and breathtaking recipe. I made it up myself, using
some Internet recipe research for inspiration, and after making it a number of
times this is the final version.

I usually make it in the morning and then leave
it in the fridge until I cook it later that night. You can make it the night
before if you'd like.

These cuttlefish are both great as appetizers as well as a main course.

Ingredients:

1 pound cleaned cuttlefish (or squid)

1 tbs olive oil

¼ cup chopped onion

2 cloves garlic chopped garlic

½ pound raw and loosely chopped shrimp

1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley

2 tablespoons whole wheat bread crumbs

½ tablespoon lemon zest (grated off a fresh lemon of course)

¼ teaspoon black pepper

1 egg

Cook the onion in the olive oil over low heat until translucent, then
add the 2 cloves of chopped garlic. Cook briefly until you can smell the
garlic, maybe 30-60 seconds. Although you may be tempted to add more
garlic (I always am), I find more detracts from the cuttlefish.

Next we stuff the cuttlefish. How you stuff the cuttlefish depends on
how it was cleaned.

Cuttlefish are normally cleaned by cutting the body along its length on
top, as in the picture. This is typical and
the cut is normally made by the cuttlebone when removing it. Since I’ve always
found cuttlefish cleaned, this isn’t an issue. There is a great cuttlefish
cleaning video below if needed.

If the cuttlefish was cleaned as squid normally are, leaving the tube
(more of an oval shape with cuttlefish) intact and removing the innards
and cartilage from the bottom where the head attaches, then stuff the
cuttlefish loosely leaving room as it will shrink as it cooks. Do the same
if using squid.

Place into a baking pan or dish that has been lightly oiled with olive
oil and bake for 375 degrees for 25 minutes uncovered.

One tip: if you are not into tentacles (poor you, you don't know what
you are missing!), you can chop them and add them to the stuffing!